UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims): Nationalist Movement (1905-1947) | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q.1. Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement:     (2025)
I. The Congress declared the attainment of 'Swaraj' by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective. 
II. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if 'Swaraj' did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

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Correct Answer is Option (a)
Statement I: Correct
Congress at Nagpur (1920) aimed for Swaraj through legitimate, peaceful means.
Statement II: Incorrect
The Non-Cooperation Movement had a phased approach, but conditions for civil disobedience and tax non-payment were not strictly tied to Swaraj's delay or government repression; Gandhi retained discretion over civil disobedience.

Q.2. Consider the following subjects with regard to Non-Cooperation Programme:     (2025)
I. Boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth 
II. Observance of strict non-violence 
III. Retention of titles and honours without using them in public
IV. Establishment of Panchayats for settling disputes
How many of the above were parts of Non-Cooperation Programme?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

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​Correct Answer is Option (c)
​Statement I: Correct 
Boycott of law courts and foreign cloth was central to the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Statement II: Correct
Gandhi emphasized strict non-violence during the movement.
Statement III: Incorrect
The programme required surrendering, not retaining, British titles and honours.
Statement IV: Correct
Establishing Panchayats for local dispute resolution was promoted.

Q.3. Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme?     (2025)
(a) The Poona Pact
(b) The Gandhi–Irwin Agreement (Delhi Pact)
(c) Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement
(d) Promulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935

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Correct Answer is Option (a)

​Post-Poona Pact (1932) with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Gandhi prioritized Harijan upliftment, opposing the British Communal Award’s separate electorates for Depressed Classes. He founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh and launched the 'Harijan' journal to combat untouchability.

Q.4. Who provided legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of Chauri Chaura incident?     (2025)
(a) C. R. Das
(b) Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant
(c) Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Khwaja Hasan Nizami
(d) M. A. Jinnah

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​Correct Answer is Option (b)
​Following the 1922 Chauri Chaura incident, numerous arrests led to harsh punishments, including death sentences. Madan Mohan Malaviya and his son Krishna Kant provided legal defense, significantly reducing sentences and saving many from execution.

Q.5. 'Sedition has become my religion' was the famous statement given by Gandhiji at the time of     (2025)
(a) the Champaran Satyagraha
(b) publicly violating Salt Law at Dandi
(c) attending the Second Round Table Conference in London
(d) the launch of the Quit India Movement

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​​Correct Answer is Option (b)
​During the 1930 Salt Satyagraha, Gandhi declared "Sedition has become my religion" after defying British authority by publicly breaking the Salt Law at Dandi, symbolizing non-violent resistance.

Q.6. With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?     (2021)
(a) The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.
(b) The Viceroy’s Executive council was expanded to include more Indians.
(c) The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.
(d) Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second world War was over.

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Correct Answer is Option (a)
Quit India Movement- launched on 8th August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Bombay

Q.7. Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?     (2021)
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Sarojini Naidu

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Correct Answer is Option (c)
written during his imprisonment in Yeravada Jail, Poona. translated hymns from the Upanishada and poems by Indian saint poets into English and that collection was published as Songs from the prison

• Not given in any reference books
  • Can be solved by elimination
  • Tilak in Jail wrote- Gita Rahsya, Arctic home of the Aryans
  • Sarojini Naidu wrote- the Bazars of Hyderabad

Q.8. In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as    (2021)
(a) leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
(b) members of the Interim Government in 1946
(c) members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly
(d) officers of the Indian National Army

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Correct Answer is Option (d)

• Indian National Army – Azad Hind Fauj, was formed in 1942 by Captain Mohan Singh with the help of the Japanese, but due to differences it was disbanded.
• Again in July 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandrabose reorganised the Indian National Army along with Ras Behari Bose and Japanese help.
• The INA campaign was headed towards Kohima under the leadership of Capt. Shahnawaz Khan, which resulted into defeat.
• After the end of WW-2, the INA was had to surrender to the British Army and later on 3 officials were court-martialled by Lord Wavell at Red Fort
• Red Fort Trials - were defended by a series of lawerys, including KN Katju, Tejbahadur Sapru, JL Nehru- resulting into INA agitation across the country

Q.9. The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first-monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by     (2020-I)
(a) Gopal Baba Walangkar
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

View Answer  

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Can be answered from elimination because BR Ambedkar & MK Gandhi worked in the 20th Century. And Jyotiba Phule wrote- Ghulam Giri (Book)
• Hence only (a) option is left, which is correct. 
• Gopal Baba Walangkar- leader of the Mahar Movement in 19th century. He was an ex-serviceman and demanded more jobs in the army and other government services. He was a contemporary of Jyotiba Phule. Gopal Baba published Vital- Vidhvanasak

Q.10. Consider the following pairs:   (2019-I) 
Movement: Organization Leader 

1. All India Anti-Untouchability League: Mahatma Gandhi 
2. All India Kisan Sabha: Swami Sahajan ad Saraswati 
3. Self Respect Movement: E.V. Ramaswami Naicker

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Correct Answer is Option (d)
While in jail, Gandhi set up the All India An untouchability  League in September 19323 All India Kisan Congress/Sabha: This sabha was founded in Lucknow in April 1936 with Swami Sahjanand Saraswati as the president and N.G. Ranga as the general secretary. During the 1920s in South India, the non-brahmins organized the Self-Respect Movement led by E.V. Ramaswamy  Naicker.
So, (d): all three are correct.

Q.11. Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?    (2018-I)
(a) To maintain a large standing army at other's expense 
(b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger 
(c) To secure a fixed income for the Company 
(d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States

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Correct Answer is Option (c)
Point A, B and D were the salient features of Subsidiary Alliance, hence "C" doesn't apply.

Q.12. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a       (2014 - I)
(a) revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco 
(b) nationalist organization operating from Singapore 
(c) militant organization with headquarters at Berlin 
(d) communist movement for India's freedom with head quarters at Tashkent

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Correct Answer is Option (a)
The Ghadar Party was a revolution ary association founded by Punjabi Indians, in the United States and Canada with the aim to gaining India's independence from British rule. Key members included Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Kartar Singh Sarabha, and Rashbehari Bose.It had its headquarters at San Francisco.

Q.13. The  Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until      (2014 - I) 
(a) the First World  War  when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended 
(b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911 
(c) Gandhiji launched  his  Civil Disobedience Movement 
(d) the Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan

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Correct Answer is Option (b)
In 1911 King George V visited India. A durbar was  held at Delhi and The capital of India was transferred from Calcutta to Delhi also Partition of Bengal was annulled.

Q.14. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to      (2014 - I)
(a) solve the problem of minorities in India 
(b) give effect to the Independence Bill 
(c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan 
(d) enquire into the riots in East Bengal

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Correct Answer is Option (c)
The Radcliffe Line is a boundary demarcation line between India and Pakistan upon the Partition of India. The Radcliffe Line was named after its architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe.

Q.15. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the (2013 - I) 
(a) imposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indians 
(b) imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages 
(c) removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans 
(d) removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth

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Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ilbert bill exempted British subjects from trial by Indian magistrates and in cases involving death or transportation they could only be tried by a high court. This proposal provoked furious protests by the Indians.

Q.16.  Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj?    (2012 - I) 

1. It opposed idolatry. 
2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts. 
3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible. 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Correct Answer is Option (b)
Statements 1 & 2 are correct.

 Q.17. With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements:  (2012 - I) 

1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government. 
2. The Government gave Pattas to the Ryots. 
3. The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 1, 2 and 3 
(d) None

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Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ryotwari settlement, the rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government and the Government gave pattas to the Ryots.

Q.18. Who among the following was a proponent of Fabianism as a movement? (2005)
(a) Annie Besant 
(b) A.O. Hume 
(c) Michael Madhusudan Dutt 
(d) R. Palme Dutt

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Correct Answer is Option (a)
The Fabian Society is a British socialist intellectual movement best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning in the late 19th century and then up to World War I. Fabianism focused on the advancement of socialist ideas through gradual influence and patiently insinuating socialist ideology into intellectual circles and groups with power.

Q.19. The word Adivasi was used for the first time to refer to the tribal people by: (1995) 
(a) Mahatma Gandhi 
(b) Thakkar Bappa 
(c) Jyotiba Phule 
(d) B.R. Ambedkar

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Correct Answer is Option (b)
Adivasi means primitive people